Broadway hit and Tony Award-winning show “Wicked” is making a two-week stop in Eugene — the first time the city has ever hosted the production.
The show is one of the most elaborate Broadway shows Eugene has ever hosted, and the hype around the show culminated in last night’s premiere at the Hult Center.
“Wicked,” based on the book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire, is one of the longest running musicals, with more than 3,000 performances since its inception in 2003.
Though the performance, as well as the book, is heavily inspired by the novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” the plot of the Broadway show turns back the clock, before Dorothy and other iconic characters enter the picture.
“Wicked” explores the history behind Elphaba, more famously known as the Wicked Witch of the West, as well as her relationship with Glinda the Good Witch.
Though initially the musical received somewhat mixed reviews from critics, “Wicked” has sustained great success, and today the success of the show has spawned several casts and productions of “Wicked” nationally, as well as internationally in England, Australia, Germany and several other countries.
On Monday, the “Munchkinland Tour” arrived in Eugene.
Aside from the music and concept, “Wicked” is probably most known for its elaborate set, detailed costuming and overall unique aesthetic.
The time and work it takes to create the magical land of Oz requires nearly three full 14 hour days of setup, including everything from placing a huge clock dragon that towers over the stage, to the pulleys for the flying (human) monkeys, to sound check and wardrobe.
David Hansen, the production stage manager for “Wicked,” said to set up the show, they use over a hundred carpenters, technicians and sound technicians — some from the road crew, but mostly hired from within Eugene.
“It’s a major undertaking,” he said.
The 100-plus-person stage crew (not including costume crew, cast, etc) started building the set at the Hult Center main stage Monday morning, layer by layer.
“Everything fits together like a giant puzzle,” Hansen said.
Backstage, the amount of details that go into each part on set is amazing, whether it is the floor lighting or the reoccurring theme of the dragon clock.
Hansen described the set of “Wicked” as “age-old stage craft and modern technology.” Even as many of the pieces were still being pulled off several giant trucks, everything about the setup seemed to be running like clockwork.
After being in the musical business for nearly 30 years, Hansen and much of the cast and crew are used to the touring life.
Because of the amount of time it takes to set up the stage, the “Wicked” national tour usually stays in a city in two to four weeks.
So much travel can be challenging for the road crew and the cast though, Hansen said.
“We don’t like to pack and unpack,” he said.
And living on the road requires a lot of packing and preparation. In addition to the all the pieces and tools needed for the set, a lot of cast and crew bring their own cars and bikes, and they also bring a physical therapist on the tour with them.
Once all the trucks are unloaded, the set is built and the show begins, Hansen said audiences will find a “total escape” in “Wicked.”
“There’s beautiful music, a fascinating story,” he said. “There’s something in the story that will draw different audience members in.”
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